LIMERICK City Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell has welcomed the public acknowledgement from NPHET’s Dr. Ronan Glynn, Dr Cillian de Gascun and Professor Philip Nolan respectively that Limerick is making real progress in bringing Covid19 under control.
Deputy O’Donnell had publicly requested such a statement was needed to clear up any confusion following an Taoiseach Micheál Martin last Friday making reference to concerns with rising covid19 rates in the city urban areas of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and the possible need for increased restrictions here.
“I welcome Dr. Cillian de Gascun, Chair, expert advisory group at NPHET publicly acknowledge on RTE News Six One RTÉ News last night that Limerick is making real progress in bringing COVID19 under control. Dr. Ronan Glynn, CMO and Chair of NPHET made similar positive comments on Friday evening as did Professor Philip Nolan, member of NPHET earlier yesterday.
“I publicly requested this clarification and confirmation be made to clear up any confusion following remarks by an Taoiseach Micheál Martin last Friday on the concerns with rising covid19 rates in the city urban areas of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and possible need for increased restrictions here.
“This remark by an Taoiseach linking increasing Covid19 rates to Limerick City urban areas caused a great degree of surprise and anxiety here, when you consider we have seen a decreasing rate of COVID19 here over the last two weeks, particularly in Limerick city urban areas.
“Indeed, recent COVID19 rate reductions in Limerick were publicly commended by acting CMO Dr. Ronan Glynn earlier this week and referenced by him as an example for others to follow.
“Furthermore, I made contact with the Taoiseach’s office and with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to have these inconsistencies addressed about the Covid-19 incidence figures in Limerick, and particularly the Limerick city urban areas.
“This decrease in the Covid19 rate is a tribute to the Limerick public following public health advice along with the great work of the local HSE health services staff.
“The latest HPSC/HSE and Covid Ireland GeoHive hub data shows Limerick City urban areas with a decreasing, rather than Covid19 incidence rate and new cases. All Limerick City urban electoral areas are all showing a decrease in the Covid19 14 day incidence rate to 21st September(See Note to Editor below Data Charts 1 & 2), as follows;
*Limerick City North is down 71% from 126.80 to 37.4
*Limerick City West is down from 17.2 to less than 5
*Limerick City East is down from 36.8 to 31.10
“Furthermore, the latest reported HPSC14 day incidence rate for Limerick overall has almost halving over the last two weeks from 69.3 to 35.9(See Note to Editor Below Data Chart 3).
“Clearly, whilst we all wish to see continuing covid19 rate reductions here in Limerick City urban areas, it needed to be publicly acknowledged that this is already well underway, rather than giving the impression that the rate rising here.
“Therefore, these prompt public positive confirmations by NPHET that Limerick City Urban areas are showing decreasing rate of Covid19 and getting control over the virus is welcome and hopefully will ease public concerns here. Still, we must look to keep the downward trend going here and reduce new cases.” he said.
